Washington DC – Today as the National Rifle Association held its first press conference since the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, two activists with the peace group CODEPINK stood up and unfurled banners that read “NRA KILLING OUR KIDS” and “NRA BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS”. The activists, Medea Benjamin and Tighe Barry, were held, questioned, and then released.

“It’s time for our government to finally stand up to the NRA. It’s time for them to protect our children, not their guns,” says CODEPINK co-director Medea Benjamin. “The NRA spokesperson was talking about ‘reckless behavior’ of the media and I stood up and said, ‘We need to stop the reckless behavior of the NRA, ban assault weapons, and have less guns on our streets, not more!’”

“From the wars the American government is perpetuating abroad, especially with killer drone strikes, to the glorification of murder in our pop culture, it’s no surprise that violence is prevalent in our society,” said CODEPINK co-director Rae Abileah. “We need a comprehensive plan to address weapons in our communities and it starts with holding the NRA accountable.”

“The NRA is out of touch, and showed a lack of remorse today. By advocating for armed guards, they want to put more guns in our schools, rather than protect our children,” Tighe Barry went on to say. “The NRA uses Washington as a way to bypass the wishes of the American public. We need to end the violence now.”

Earlier this week, CODEPINK visited the office of Senator Reid and told him it’s time to take a stand for gun control and stand up to the NRA.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S. funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.

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